Recent developments in infant psychology indicate that babies are more aware of and receptive to their surroundings than previously thought. The strong effect of the look and feel of a baby's surroundings makes the choice of a baby crib and baby mobile an important decision for a parent. Most infant experts recommend that a well-chosen baby mobile should fill the baby's vision against a neutral background to reduce clutter.

Studies show that babies are positively stimulated by strongly contrasting colors, which can thus aid in visual development. For years, black-and-white mobiles were the chosen method of displaying contrast, but new studies suggest adding a bit of color to the baby mobile can strengthen the effect. Manhattan Baby produces a popular line of baby mobiles in black and white and brightly colored varieties.

One of the signature characteristics of a baby mobile is that it is not static. Suspended on strings in multiple layers, mobiles continually bob and spin in a rhythmic pattern that is though to soothe infants. Because infants are fascinated by actions that affect the surrounding environment, a baby mobile that connects to the baby's ankle is sure to get a lot of attention.

It has been common practice for millennia to hang interesting objects above a baby's crib, including jewelry, spinning objects, and foliage. The baby mobile has also been a fixture above cribs for centuries, with highly artistic and colorful designs gaining popularity only recently. Mobiles were developed as examples of modernist sculpture starting in the 1930s by Marcel Duchamp and Alexander Calder.